Top Sydney pair tipped to rule at Flemington

CRACK Sydney three-yearolds Trapeze Artist and Ace High are poised to snare the Group 1 classic double at Flemington on Saturday.

Trapeze Artist has been primed for the $1 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), while Ace High is favourite for the $1.5 million Victoria Derby (2500m).

They are the only last-start Group 1 winners in either race.

Trapeze Artist is coming off his brilliant Golden Rose win at Rosehill while Ace High took out the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick.

Jockey Tye Angland won majors on both during the Sydney spring carnival and retains the Derby Day rides.

Trapezee Artist is among 22 entries for the Coolmore Stud Stakes, which also includes unbeaten Godolphin colt Viridine and stablemates Kementari, Bandipur and Malahat, outstanding Lindsay Park fillies Catchy, Formality and Tulip, and the Toby Edmondstrained Gold Coast sprinters Eptimum and Houtzen.

Trainer Gerald Ryan said Trapeze Artist had trained on well since a setback prevented the colt from contesting the Sydney Stakes on Everest Day.

“He pulled a muscle in his neck one morning at the track,’’ Ryan said.

“But he is fine now and had a jumpout last Tuesday morning when he went well.’’

Trainer David Payne also confirmed Ace High would leave for Melbourne tomorrow night to attempt to become the first since Monaco Consul (2009) to win the Spring Champion Stakes and Victoria Derby. Ace High’s task has been made a little easier after trainer Tony McEvoy confirmed Royal Symphony won’t back up in the Derby despite his brave fourth in the Cox Plate behind Winx.

Derby Day has four Group 1 races, including the $1 million Kennedy Mile (1600m).

It has attracted a bumper 43 entries, including the Kris Lees-trained trio of Clearly Innocent, Sense Of Occasion and Sound Proposition.